Spring postal scale



g- 1950 F. s. STICKNEY 2,518,197

SPRING POSTAL SCALE Filed June 12, 1947 FIG./ FIG. 2 FIG. 3

INVENTOR. FERNALD 5.5T/CKNEY Patented Aug. 8, 1950 UNITED STATE-S PATENT OFFICE SPRING POSTAL SCALE Fernald S. Stickney, West Caldwell, N. J.

Application June 12, 1947, Serial No. 754,114

Claims. (Cl. 26563) This invention relates to a small type of postal scale which is satisfactory for use as a pocket or table model.

It happens a great many times that people, in writing letters, are uncertain as to the postage required, and are therefore undecided as to whether to put on one, two or more stamps.

It is the principal object of my invention to provide a small postal scale which has a high degree of sensitivity and accuracy, yet one that can be manufactured at a very low cost, and at the same time meet the apparent need of such a device which may be used as a table model in the home, or even as a pocket model which may be taken along on a trip.

My improved type of postal scale is depicted in the attached drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 illustrates a full size view of the device which I found very satisfactory as a table type model, but without the base it is a very handy portable model, either for vest pocket or handbag transportation.

Figure 2 is a view of the structure on an enlarged scale, partly in section and partly in elevation.

Figure 3 is a view on the same scale as Figure 2, of the casing or body portion of the device without the spiders or anchor plates.

Figure 4 is a plan view of the cap or pan for receiving the letter to be Weighed.

Figure 5 is a plan view of one of the spiders or anchor plates for holding the parts of the casing or body together.

Figure 6 is a plan view of the base member shown in Figure 2.

Figure '7 is an end View of Figure 3.

In various views wherein like numbers refer to corresponding parts, the casing C is made up of two semi-circular parts i and 2. These parts are held together by a plurality of spiders or anchor parts 3 having projections 4 adapted to engage openings or notches 5 in the members i and 2, which also have similar notches 6 in their edge portions as clearly shown in Figures 3 and 7 to receive the projections 4.

It will be noted from Figures 1 and 3 that after the anchor plates 3 are inserted into position and the projections 4 slightly staked, the casing members and 2 are held slightly apart at their edges to form a slot 1 through which is adapted to project the end 8 of a shaft or rod 9 that is supported by two of the anchor plates 3, one of which is preferably centrally located intermediate the ends of the casing, and one of the others near the upper end of the casing, the anchor plates 3 having a hole i6 therein to receive the rod 51'.

Positioned in the upper end of the casing is a spring Ii preferably made of beryllium copper which has many characteristics superior to steel springs. This spring has a deflection rate of /2 ounce per inch, uniformity being maintained within an extremely close range. One end of the spring Ii rests on the upper anchor plate 3, while the other end is positioned in a cap or pan l2 which is formed somewhat cup shaped and with its center preferably depressed at I 3. While the pan I2 is shown of apparently the same diameter as the casing C it may be made somewhat larger.

For table top use a base It may be utilized. The base has preferably a central cup shaped projection [5 formed so as to make a tight sliding fit with the casing C so that the base and casing may be separated if desired for better ease in carrying the scale for use as a portable instrument.

The scale is calibrated by blocking the pointer 8 at approximately the mid scale position, it being understood that the pan 12 has a hole in it to pass the rod 9, then applying a weight to the pan that will carry it downwardly on the rod to about onehalf the scale capacity and then, fastening the rod 9 to the pan ii; in any satisfactory manner as by welding or soldering. This procedure has the effect of halving the small variations in the deflection rate of the spring, and it also compensates entirely for variations in the free length of the spring.

I have found that the postal scale made in the manner described is more sensitive and accurate than many scales that I have investigated and tested.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

l. A postal scale having a cylindrical body With a longitudinally positioned slot therein, a base for the body, a plurality of anchor plates positioned within the body along its length, one of said plates being located near the top or free end of the body, a helical spring having one end positioned for a short distance within the free end of the body and resting against the plate located thereat, a weight pan engaging the other end of the spring which extends for the greater part of its length without the body, a rod fastened directly at one end to said pan and extending through the spring and its support plate and having its free end bent outwardly through said body slot to act as a pointer, the body adjacent the slot along the range of movement of the pointer being calibrated to read in ounces and fractions thereof as indicated by the pointer.

2. A postal scale having a cylindrical body with a longitudinally positioned slot therein, an anchor plate near each end of the body and at least one intermediate plate, a helical spring having one end positioned within one end of the body and resting against the anchor plate at this end and extending upwardly without the body, a weight pan engaging the protruding end of the spring, a rod fastened at one end to said pan and extending through the spring and through at least two of the anchor plates with its lower free end bent outwardly through said body slot to act as a pointer, the body adjacent the slot along the range of movement of the pointer being calibrated to read in ounces and fractionsthere of as indicated by the pointer.

,3. A postal scale having a body composed of two semi-cylindrical parts with a longitudinal slot along at least one pair of edges of the two parts, anchor plates near both ends of and at least one intermediate the ends of said parts for holding the parts in assembled position, a helical spring having one'end positioned within one end of the body and resting against the anchor plate at this end, a Weight pan engaging the opposite end of the spring, a rod fastened at one end to said pan U and extending through the spring and along the 3 axial line of the body and through the spring end anchor plate as well as the intermediate anchor plate and having its free end bent outwardly 4 through said body slot to act as a pointer, the body adjacent the slot along the range of movement of the pointer being calibrated to read in ounces and fractions thereof as indicated by the pointer.

4. A postal scale as defined in claim 3 further characterized in that said semi-cylindrical parts have polygonally shaped holes therein while the anchor plates have projections to cooperate with said holes to lock the two parts of the body securely together.

5. A method of calibrating a scale of the type as defined in claim 2 wherein the pan has a centrally located hole therein to receive the said rod, which consists in blocking the pointer and rod at the mid scale position, then calibrating by applying a weight to the weight pan which will carry the pan down the rod to approximately one-half of the scale capacity, then while the rod is in this position fastening it to the weight pan, as and for the purposes described. 7

FERNALD S. STICKNEY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 405,648 Zwiesler June 18, 1889 1,737,352 Bensinger Dec. 30, 1930 2,074,628 Tatum Mar. 23, 1937 2,147,917 Noren Feb. 21, 1939 

